The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), registered charity 212025, was founded in 1874 and today represents the interests of 24,000 amateur beekeeper members and the 3 billion honey bees they care for.

The BBKA exists to promote and further the craft of beekeeping and to advance the education of the public in the importance of bees in the environment. It provides information to help you learn about bees in lots of different ways:

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20,000th Member

BBKA SIGNS UP IT'S 20,000th MEMBER

As membership soars to a 30 year high, the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) announced today that Mrs Tara Ford, a member of the Sidcup branch of the Kent Beekeepers Association, has become its 20,000th member.

Mrs Ford, a florist, became interested in bees in 2009 and took a recognised BBKA Introductory Course run by her local beekeepers early this year.

Mrs Ford, said: “I’d always been fascinated by honey bees, but concerned about their decline, so having got an allotment and some chickens, it just seemed natural to go on and learn about beekeeping.

“The local beekeepers have been very welcoming to me and my family – even providing a bee suit for my daughter. Sophie has watched as I learnt the art of handling a hive of 50,000 bees closely guided by my beekeeping mentor.

“By July I felt confident enough to have a hive on my allotment. It’s so satisfying to watch the bees flying around the allotment, collecting nectar and pollinating the crops -every site should have some.”

David Rea, Chairman of Sidcup Beekeepers said: “Tara has become a ‘model’ beekeeper and you can only do that by learning how to handle bees responsibly before you get your own.”

“Our membership matches the steep upward curve across the UK. We have nearly 70 active members – the highest number for 25 years.”

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